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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: staff · drill · bulb · charge · current · pitcher · ground · board

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bulb — for light
  3. drill — a practice
  4. staff — a stick
  5. staff — employees
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. board — to get on
  9. current — of water
  10. ground — crushed
  11. charge — a price
  12. drill — the tool
  13. board — a committee
  14. current — electric
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. staff — employees
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. charge — in control
  21. charge — electricity
  22. drill — army training
  23. ground — a position
  24. current — happening now

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com